THE magical home of Mickey Mouse and Cinderella beckons for a South Yorkshire schoolboy who is being sent on the trip of a lifetime by a Sheffield charity.
Declan Gunn, aged 10, was given only six months to live after being born prematurely at just 27 weeks.
But, despite being profoundly deaf, and having a malfunction in his intestines which means he has to be fed through a tube, Declan has continued to defy the doctors’ predictions.
He is now set to go on an exciting holiday to Disneyland Paris, paid for by good cause Help A Child Have A Chance, as part of the 12 Days of Christmas appeal in association with The Star.
The charity has teamed up with The Star to offer needy young people across the region the chance to receive a share of £10,000.
Nominations flooded in following an appeal last month and the recipients of the cash are now being revealed.
Declan will travel to Paris with his family, including his mum Jackie.
He is a day pupil at Doncaster School for the Deaf, where he is given special support.
The youngster is diabetic and epileptic, and is affected by ADHD, as well as having to be artificially pump-fed for 19 hours a day.
He was also born without any growth hormones, and has a form of osteochondritis called Perthese Disease, a condition where the joint of the hip crumbles, causing severe pain.
John Weston, the deaf school’s fundraiser, said: “He spent the first 22 months of his life in hospital undergoing major operations, and spending long periods of time on life support due to the severity of his many medical conditions caused by the premature birth.
“He has a short life expectancy which was originally within the first six months, then extended to three years, but Declan is still determined to carry on defying all odds.”
John added: “Declan has been a pupil at the deaf school for three years and, together with his family, we are extremely proud of the journey he has travelled and his determination to fight his long battle.”
Declan lives in Grimsby.
Help A Child Have A Chance is run by the family of the late Hallam FM DJ Dave Kilner, who raised thousands for charity.
For more details email info@helpachildhaveachance.co.uk or visit www.helpachildhaveachance.co.uk
n See The Star tomorrow for another 12 Days of Christmas winner.
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